Drive against camps with illegal jockeys from today |
Gulf News (04th January 2005) Police will today start raiding camps which employ underage camel jockeys, as part of its enforcement of the law which became effective yesterday. The UAE has taken the lead in the region with a new law officially banning the use of camel jockeys below the age of 16 and weighing less than 45kg. The law, which was announced last month by Shaikh Hamdan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, has increased the minimum age of camel jockeys from 15 to 16 years. The government said that it will strictly implement the law. Diplomatic sources of seven countries exporting camel jockeys said it is not yet clear exactly how many underage children are in the business, but the authorities have began collecting information. "We have already been approached by parents of underage jockeys and local employers for their repatriation," a diplomat said. "It's a good move and we will fully cooperate with the UAE authorities in their endeavour to end this menace," a diplomat at the Pakistani mission in Dubai told Gulf News. The UAE authorities have also taken a further step to eliminate smuggling of underage children, making it mandatory for all expatriate children to have their own passports instead of having their names endorsed on their parent's travel documents. All expatriate residents in the UAE have been given time until September 30 to comply with the rule. Brigadier Hadher Al Muhairi, Director of the General Directorate of Naturalisation and Residency, said in a recent statement that it is now mandatory for all expatriate residents to have individual passports within six months including passports for their children. This is because of the number of reported cases of children being smuggled into the country, he said, adding that the new rule would help prevent the smuggling of underage camel jockeys into the country. "There have been cases where people have brought in other people's children on their own passport, claiming they were their parents. "These children are then illegally used as jockeys. It is difficult for us to track down the people who brought them in, or their real parents, because they have no identification." Ansar Burney, Chairman of the Ansar Burney Welfare Trust International who has been working to eliminate the use of child camel jockeys for years, said: "Similar laws have been issued at least twice ... but this time we believe the government is tackling this issue very seriously and it has given us assurance that the rule will be firmly implemented. "The country's ports of entry have already been instructed to ensure that no children less than 16 years of age are able to enter for the purpose of being used as camel jockeys." Burney is supervising the first child rehabilitation centre set up in Abu Dhabi last year to provide accommodation, medical treatment, food and education to underage camel jockeys who have been rescued and are awaiting repatriation. He called on those employing jockeys under the age of 16 to return the children to their countries. Press Back on your browser to Return
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